Osceola Has New Coach

Osceola Sports - High School Girls Basketball

KISSIMMEE -- The search for a girls basketball coach to replace Donnie Preston at Osceola High School turned up Jerry Lutz, 43, a former college assistant eager to take the team to the next level.

Given that Osceola advanced to a Class 5A Final Four this past season and finished 25-6, that won't be easy.

"I've heard we've got talent, and I saw some of it at a summer tournament at North Florida College in Jacksonville," Lutz said. "They've had a big turnaround the past few years. I have high expectations for this team."

Preston spent four seasons as coach, taking over the year after Osceola staggered through a 0-24 season. When he left four years later, the team's composite record was 73-39 and they had achieved a first Final Four, only to lose to eventual state champ South Broward in a semifinal at Lakeland Center.

The Kowboys were just 6-18 that first season, but he recognized the material was there. Over the next three seasons, Osceola was 21-8, 21-7 and 25-6.

Four-year starter Chantell Thomas, a two-time Osceola Sentinel Player of the Year, and 6-foot-1 center Randi Weiss formed the nucleus of those three teams. Thomas accepted a scholarship to the University of Alabama-Birmingham and Weiss received a basketball/softball grant to Rollins College.

Preston didn't leave the cupboard bare. Jennafur Williams and Carmen Thomas, Chantell's sister, are returning starters. They are joined by a handful of experienced players.

Desire drives Lutz. As a player, he was a 5-9 center at Shenango High in New Castle, Pa. He also was quarterback in a Wishbone-style offense and ran sprints when he wasn't long-, triple- or high-jumping in track and field.

Lutz led Portersville (Pa.) Christian to a 118-15 record and seven conference championships over nine seasons of Class A play. He left Portersville to become an assistant at Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pa., before moving to Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Ariz., and Odessa (Texas) Junior College last year.

"I like his work ethic, his basketball knowledge and willingness to take our basketball program to another level," said Osceola Principal Chuck Paradiso.

Said Jamie Baker, Osceola's athletic director: "Jerry is very professional, very organized and straight forward with a personality. He seems to be a pretty good guy."

Lutz, who teaches physical education, has a master's degree in coaching and an interest in biomechanics.

"I'm into pressure defense as a coach," he said. "I like to throw everything, even the kitchen sink into defensive schemes. What we'll do offensively is a good question, but I like motion and structure."